1847 Cover Census

Developed & Supported by Mark Scheuer. Based on the work of Thomas J. Alexander.
Dedicated to the memory of Creighton Hart and Susan McDonald.
Feedback, additions, and corrections most welcome. Please send to: markscensus@uspcs.org

“This cover is listed in the Alexander Census as having been forwarded from Bordeaux to Brion. However, wine affectionados will note the word Haut which precedes the name Brion. Indeed, this cover was mailed to Chateau Haut Brion, one of the eight great First Growths of the wine-producing region of Bordeaux France.

The cover is addressed to Joseph-Eugene Lirrieu, the owner of the Chateau from 1836-1859. The content proves to be a discussion of the difficulty with a shipment of 400+ cases of the 1839 vintage. To provide some perspective on the value of this shipment, a bottle of the current 2000 vintage sells for over $300 per bottle, placing the retail value of 400+ cases at more than $1,500,000.

Chateau Haut Brion is one of the few great French wine estates under American ownership. Currently it is owned by Douglas Dillon, who was Secretary of the treasury under John. F. Kennedy.”